PHILIPSBURG:---  Member of Parliament Egbert J. Doran is calling for the fair and immediate resolution of the ongoing payment dispute involving Fleming Waste Solutions, stating that while the Government should always work toward stronger administrative structures and formalized contracts, contractors who carry out essential services for the country should not remain unpaid after work has already been executed, verified, and accepted.

Doran said the recent public discussion surrounding the matter requires additional context, particularly as attention now appears to be shifting toward assigning blame instead of resolving the issue responsibly.

“Let us be realistic about how Government operations have functioned over the years,” Doran stated. “While formal contracts are always the preferred structure, not every operational arrangement historically operated that way, especially in areas tied to urgent or essential public services.”

Doran said that while a formal written contract would certainly have been the ideal and more structured approach, the absence of such a contract does not automatically invalidate or make the arrangement illegal where services were requested, carried out, verified, and accepted by the Government through established operational and financial processes.

“The reality is that the government cannot continue benefiting from services rendered and then disregard payment obligations afterward,” Doran stated.

According to Doran, situations involving operational necessity, procurement timelines, budget limitations, and evolving maintenance costs have existed across multiple ministries for years and are not unique to this matter.

“The important point is this: once the government requests the service, the work is executed, the work is confirmed, invoices are submitted, and the government continues benefiting from those services, then the provider deserves to be paid,” he said.

Doran noted that Fleming Waste Solutions continued operating under the current administration for nearly two years, during which the company reportedly continued receiving assignments and payments under the same operational arrangement now being questioned.

“If concerns existed about the structure itself, then those concerns should have been addressed much earlier,” Doran said. “You cannot continue requesting essential services, continue benefiting from the work, and then only raise administrative complications once payments become delayed.”

Doran also encouraged the Minister to engage directly with the relevant departments, financial personnel, and individuals previously involved in the operational process to gain a fuller understanding of how the arrangement evolved over time and how payments were historically handled within Government systems.

Providing background on the matter, Doran explained that following the receipt of heavy equipment from the NRPB for landfill management operations, Government entered into a working arrangement with Fleming Waste Solutions to assist with the operation and maintenance of landfill machinery, including Caterpillar equipment used for daily landfill operations.

At the time, Fleming Waste Solutions already maintained an operational presence at the landfill. Mr. Derrick Fleming is a Certified Diesel Technician and Certified Level 1 CAT Technician, and the company possesses the experience required to service Caterpillar equipment under challenging landfill conditions.

According to Doran, due to the operational realities, evolving maintenance demands, and the need to first establish clearer long-term servicing and repair cost projections, the arrangement developed into a phased operational maintenance structure over time rather than an immediately fixed long-term contractual model.

“This approach allowed the government to better assess recurring operational costs based on actual repairs, servicing history, parts replacement, and ongoing operational usage,” Doran explained. “Like many operational realities within Government, these types of structures sometimes evolve while ministries work through procurement procedures, budgeting limitations, and operational demands simultaneously.”

Doran stated that payments were processed through submitted advice and the normal financial review channels, with supporting documentation and internal checks carried out.

“This was not a situation where random payments were simply being handed out,” Doran stated. “These services were tied directly to maintaining landfill operations and avoiding disruptions to a critical national function.”

Doran added that many long-standing operational arrangements across Government evolved out of necessity where operational realities, procurement procedures, and budget constraints did not always align perfectly.

“Whether we agree with every administrative structure from the past or not, we also have to acknowledge reality,” Doran added. “Fleming Waste Solutions continued carrying out difficult and essential work under extremely challenging conditions while helping maintain continuity at the landfill.”

Doran said the focus now should be on resolving the issue fairly and responsibly rather than allowing the matter to continue dragging on.

“At the end of the day, the contractor carried out work requested by Governments both past and present, work that the Government benefited from, and work tied directly to an essential national function,” Doran stated. “The people carrying out these services earned their wages. The matter should now be resolved responsibly and fairly.”

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), Richinel Brug, is informing the public of recent developments regarding a reported Hantavirus cluster aboard a cruise ship, while reassuring the community that the risk to Sint Maarten and the wider Caribbean region remains low.
According to international health authorities, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), several Hantavirus cases were identified aboard a cruise vessel currently off the coast of Cabo Verde. As of early May 2026, several confirmed cases and fatalities have been reported, all directly linked to individuals onboard the vessel. Minister Brug emphasized that there is no evidence of spread beyond the ship and that the likelihood of transmission within the Caribbean region is limited.
“Based on the information provided by international and regional health authorities, the risk to Sint Maarten remains low. However, as a country that welcomes a significant number of cruise passengers annually, we remain vigilant and proactive in our approach to public health,” Minister Brug stated.
The Minister explained that Hantaviruses are typically transmitted by specific wild rodents and are not commonly associated with urban environments. This further reduces the likelihood of local transmission within Sint Maarten.
In light of the situation, the Ministry, through Collective Prevention Services (CPS), continues to prioritize strong surveillance and prevention measures, particularly at the island’s ports of entry.
“Our port health systems, including the Maritime Declaration of Health process, play a critical role in identifying and managing potential health risks before vessels arrive. We continue to work closely with international partners to ensure that these protocols remain effective,” the Minister noted.
Minister Brug also highlighted the importance of ongoing collaboration with regional and international organizations such as CARPHA, PAHO, and the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) to monitor developments and respond appropriately if needed.While no travel or trade restrictions have been recommended, the Ministry remains prepared to take any necessary measures to safeguard public health.
“This situation serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining strong public health systems and preparedness, particularly in a region that plays such a significant role in global cruise tourism,” Minister Brug added.
The Ministry of VSA will continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide updates to the public as necessary.

PHILIPSBURG:---  Member of Parliament Francisco A. Lacroes has formally requested the Government to provide a comprehensive assessment of Sint Maarten’s pension system, raising growing concerns about whether many pensioners are still able to meet the basic cost of living after retirement.
In a letter submitted to the Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, MP Lacroes requested detailed financial, actuarial, demographic, and legal information related to both the pension structure administered through Social & Health Insurances SZV and the contributory pension system managed by Algemeen Pensioenfonds Sint Maarten.
According to MP Lacroes, the request is not about attacking the current system, but about honestly assessing and aligning the reality pensioners are facing today.
“We have people who worked their entire lives, contributed for decades, and now find themselves struggling with groceries, electricity, medication, and rent,” MP Lacroes stated. “At some point, we have to ask ourselves a simple question. Is the system giving our people enough to live with dignity?”
The request seeks information on life expectancy trends, projected growth in the pensioner population, pension adequacy, actuarial sustainability, reserve levels, and the long-term feasibility of establishing a legally guaranteed minimum pension tied to the statutory minimum wage.
MP Lacroes explained that the issue becomes even more significant for lower-income workers whose pension outcomes are directly tied to salary levels throughout their working lives, “Pension should not be less than our minimum wage”, he stated.
“The reality is that two people can contribute their whole lives and still retire into completely different situations because one earned less during their working years,” he said. “This system may be functioning as designed, but we still have a responsibility to question and challenge whether the final outcome is enough for my people to survive.”
The parliamentary request asks the Government to assess what it would cost to ensure that pensioners do not fall below the minimum income level and whether additional Government support mechanisms may eventually be required, clarity on whether existing laws, including the Landsverordening Algemene Ouderdomsverzekering and the Landsverordening Algemeen Pensioenfonds Sint Maarten, already provide mechanisms that can support stronger pension protections, or whether legislative amendments would ultimately be required.
Importantly, MP Lacroes emphasized that this process must be based on facts, data, and proper legal analysis before any policy direction is taken.

“This is not about making promises before understanding the numbers,” he stated. “This is about doing the work properly, understanding where we stand, and deciding what kind of country we want to be for the people who helped build it.”
MP Lacroes concluded by stressing that retirement should not become a period of constant financial uncertainty for the elderly.
“At the end of the day, people are not asking for luxury. They are asking to live without fear after giving their lives to this country. If we cannot answer whether that is possible today, then we have a responsibility to start addressing it now.”

PHILIPSBURG:---  In accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) previously signed between the Island Councils of Saba and Sint Eustatius, and the Parliament of Sint Maarten, the SSS Cooperative Consultations 2026 will take place on May 7–8, 2026, in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten. The consultations will be hosted by the Parliament of Sint Maarten at its location on Wilhelminastraat 1.
Building on the outcomes of the inaugural consultations held in 2025, the SSS Cooperative Consultations serve as a dedicated platform for the representative bodies of the three islands to continue structured dialogue and cooperation on shared concerns. The consultations reflect the MoU's commitment to strengthening regional ties and pursuing practical solutions that benefit the people of the SSS islands.
Formal consultations will take place on Friday, May 8, 2026, and will include an update and follow-up on the SSS Cooperative Report 2025, and the signed MoU. Participants will also focus on key areas of cooperation, including: Healthcare, Education, Economic development, Tourism, and Air connectivity between the SSS islands.
These discussions are intended to further align policies, share experiences, and strengthen collaboration in areas that directly impact social and economic development across the three islands.